Official Luthiers Forum!

Recently someone on this forum said "I don't bother with the bridge reinforcement plate on a classical anymore." I just braced a classical in the Hauser pattern and left the bridge plate off. However, now I'm having second thoughts... The top is engleman sanded to .090 as its very stiff lengthwise, across the top its just average stiffness. Would the various experts on this site care to weigh in on the need for a bridge plate? This guitar needs to be a knock out right from the get go, longevity is not an issue. I am greatful for the knowledge so casually offered up on this site, it makes building guitars so much more fun!

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The Biggest Little City, Nevada
www.hammondguitars.com
I love building guitars!

Without a bridge plate, the bridge/top glue joint is much more likely to fail in time as the top expands and contracts across its grain with changes in moisture content. Sandwiching the top between the bridge and the bridge plate stabilizes the top in that area.

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

Mike,
I have built many good guitars without the plate and many with the plate. I know this doesn't help but just wanted to let you know that it is possible to have a good sounding guitar without a plate.